However, it's a bit early to panic: building pressure in a volcano's magma chamber is not the only factor causing volcanic eruptions, says UPI News. Further, Japanese scientists have become rather skilled at predicting volcanic eruptions, out of extremely practical necessity.

Impending eruption isn't the only potential danger to one of Japan's most enduring landscapes. In May, scientists discovered an as-yet-unknown fault under Mt Fuji, which could cause parts of the mountain to collapse if it shifts, according to AFP.

Standing 3,776 meters high, Mt Fuji is an iconic symbol in Japanese art, although volcano-prone Japan is well aware of its potential destructive power.

This eruption, known as the Hoei eruption to scientists, was violent and produced a large quantity of pyroclastic fall, says Naomichi Miyaji of Nihon University. It's likely that this earlier eruption was sparked by earthquakes, which set Mt Fuji rumbling into action.

Although no one was killed directly in the 1707 eruption, many people eventually died of starvation as their farm fields were covered in ash, says Miyaji.

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